Jimmy Butler put up 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds, leading the host Miami Heat to a 116-109 win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry produced his 10th career triple-double with 23 points, 13 assists and 13 rebounds. Still, it was Golden State’s third straight loss.
The Warriors fell to 0-4 on the road in part because they couldn’t stop Butler in a couple of crucial situations. Butler made the go-ahead three-point play with 1:48 left, drawing a foul on Andrew Wiggins for a 112-109 lead. Butler also made a mid-range jumper with 9.5 seconds left, giving Miami a 114-109 lead.
Heat guard Tyler Herro, who entered the game averaging 19.9 points, was accidentally poked in his left eye by Golden State’s Moses Moody with 6:01 left in the second quarter. Herro suffered a contusion and did not return, finishing with just two points in 10 minutes.
Miami was also led by reserve guard Max Strus, who scored a game-high 24 points as the Heat snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Heat also got 19 points from Bam Adebayo, 17 points from Duncan Robinson and 13 points and nine assists from Kyle Lowry.
Miami improved to 2-3 at home. The Heat also snapped a three-game head-to-head losing streak against the Warriors.
Golden State also got 21 points from Wiggins and 19 points from Klay Thompson, who was rested in the Warriors’ previous game on Sunday.
Miami closed the first quarter on a 20-3 run, taking a 33-24 lead into the second. Curry had eight points on perfect shooting — 3-for-3 on field goals, including both his 3-pointers.
Golden State regained the lead, 45-44, on a Poole layup with 4:23 left in the second. But Miami rallied back to take a 58-56 lead into halftime.
The Warriors outscored Miami, 38-28, in the third, entering the fourth with a 94-86 advantage. Thompson made a third-quarter-high 11 points, making 4 of 7 shots, including 2 of 4 3-pointers.
In the final quarter, however, Miami scored the final seven points to ice the game.
–Field Level Media
